Author Archives: Karin

Sep 8 2011

Grapes

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Concord Grapes

We planted Concord Grapes 3 years ago and this is the first year we have had grapes.  Grapes usually have one season that they establish themselves and then produce the next.  Why did it take us 3 seasons?  We had an early frost last year that killed all the growth and the plant had to grow back from the roots.  We now know that grapes are very sensitive and need a lot of tender care if you want any grapes.  Last fall we mulched heavily around the vine and coved it in the spring if there was any chance of frost.  We only have 6 clumps of grapes this year but we are happy to just have grapes.  I don’t mind.  I need a juicer first so I can make jelly and juice.  This gives me at least another season to acquire the equipment before a big crop.  We haven’t picked them yet because you’re supposed to wait until the first frost for the sugars to set like you do for apples.  Plus they have just barely started to turn purple.

Sep 6 2011

Pumpkin

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Pumpkin Blossom

Pumkins, are the bane of my gardening skills.  I have tried for many years now to grow pumpkins. I’ve tried many different varieties including the great giant, jack-o-lantern, and now Howden.  I’ve searched the internet to see what I’ve possibly been doing wrong only to hear that pumpkins are really easy to grow. Urrrrgh! So not helping.  All I wanted was at least one sizable pumpkin to carve for Halloween.  Most years the pumpkin plant has barely grown.  Last year I got a soft ball size pumpkin.  This year all plant and no pumpkin.  I know it’s not the area I live in. Friends in my neighborhood grow pumpkins just fine.  One even had nearly 20 pumpkins growing in her garden last year.  I’ve eagerly awaited thinking this year was going to be different.  The plant took off and has been doing great.  Lots of male blossoms but no female blossoms.  We would see the female blossoms start to develop only to see it wither away before it even had a chance to blossom.  Until this morning.  Yes!  I quickly went out there and hand pollinated the blossom to ensure pollination.  It was in the 30s last night and not a lot of bees were buzzing around this morning.  So I took a q-tip and rubbed some pollen from the male blossom and transfered it to the female blossom.  I wonder if it’s too little too late.  It’s already starting to get chilly.  I hope this pumpkin takes and grows big enough for Halloween.  Obviously something I’ll be updating on later.  I do have a great recipe for pumpkin pie filling so maybe I’ll try a sweet pumpkin next year.  Any suggestions on what variety to choose from?

The pumpkin plant taking over my garden

Sep 4 2011

Tomatoes

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Early Girl Tomato

Tomatoes are an essential part of my garden.  I can whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, salsa, and spaghetti sauce.  So I have to have tomatoes growing in my garden.  We planted  8 tomato plants.  Two of the plants are a cherry tomato.  So far my favorite has been the early girl variety.  It’s a smaller tomato but ripens pretty early which is necessary for this climate.  Every year I’m on the search for a new favorite variety.  I would like the tomato to be a little bigger.  I planted 5 varieties.  There are 4 early girls, 1 super fantastic, 1 Sophie’s choice (heirloom), 1 currant cherry tomato, and 1 sungold cherry tomato.

Currant Cherry Tomato

First I’ll discuss the cherry tomatoes.  I plant at least one cherry every year because I like these in salads.   This way I don’t have to use my bigger tomatoes for my salads.  They also produce a lot sooner and you are able to have them during the summer.  I usually plant a sweet 100 cherry tomato.  I thought I would try something different this year.  Wrong idea.  I got the currant cherry tomato.  These are super small and don’t have a lot of flavor.  They are also difficult to pick.  They grow like a currant in big clusters and really close to the center of the plant.  The tomatoes on the bottom of the plant were the first to ripen.  In order to get to them I had to crawl on my hands and knees and stick my hand all the way in the plant to pick.  Even then you couldn’t tell if you were getting the right tomato because they were so closely clumped together.  Many times I would end up picking a green tomato instead of the red one.  So frustrating.  I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t even care if they get picked or not.

The other cherry tomato that I picked is called Sungold. This is a small orange cherry

Sungold Cherry Tomato

tomato.  We love this one.  It is so sweet.  This is the variety that we got a few years ago when we first started gardening and it single handedly convinced my husband that tomatoes aren’t gross. Sophia, my three year old, loves this one and we have to act quickly if we want any before she picks them all.  Definitely one we’ll do again.

The Super Fantastic variety was a mothers day gift from church.  I actually like this one.  It produces a lot of large tomatoes and taste terrific.  The only problem I have with this one is that it splits easily.  I think all the tomatoes that I’ve pulled off of there so far have split.  That’s okay if you’re using it for salsa but not okay for whole tomatoes.  This might be a variety I’ll try again since I do like salsa.

Sophie’s Choice variety I got on a whim.  I was looking for just one more tomato to plant and one that produces early and is larger than the early girl.  Saw this one and got it.  It was a little more expensive because it’s an heirloom tomato but so far it has done great.  The tomatoes are larger and don’t seem to have any splits but they are taking longer to ripen then my other tomatoes.  I just hope they ripen before the first frost in a couple of weeks.

Tomatoes are pretty easy to plant.  They are very frost tender so if you live in a cooler climate like I do you’ll need to have your tarp ready to cover them.  Tomatoes are also very easy to can and great to have in the pantry.  We use our whole tomatoes in soups, stews, casseroles, and even chili.  The key is to find the right variety that works for you.

Sep 2 2011

Survived the first week of school

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Sophia didn't want to be left out. Can you see the anxious look on Levi's face?

That’s right school started this week.  On the first day Preston and Levi were so excited.  They were up and dressed before the sun was.  We all made the trip to the bus stop only to find out that the bus was early.  It is a few blocks to the bus stop from our house and when we rounded the corner the kids took off on a mad dash.  The bus waited for them and they made it on just fine.  They got on the bus before I could even wish them luck and say goodbye.  Since the bus was there so early it waited for a while.  Corey and I were able to catch up and wave to the boys through the windows.  I could tell Levi was a little anxious and was on the verge of tears.  Later that day he told me he cried when Corey, Sophia, and I walked away.  You can see his silhouette in the bus picture on the top right window.  Other than that everything went without a hitch.  The kids love their teachers and are excited about getting back to work.  Preston has already started and finished a book and has started a new one.  It has been really nice and quiet around here with just Sophia and I (and sometimes Corey).  I seemed to have acquired an extra shadow.  Sophia doesn’t have her brothers to keep her busy so she just follows me around all day.  It is funny to see how she plays.  Just today she was saying “I love you” and I told her I love you back.  Then she informed me that it was her elephant talking to her not her talking to me.  The kids are loving school.  I’m loving the alone time with Sophia.  Corey is liking the quiet time he has for work.  We are all happy! Yay for school!

Preston going into 4th grade

Levi going into 1st grade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking to the bus stop

Goodbye bus

Aug 20 2011

Tiffany Family Reunion 2011

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Warm Lake Idaho

Well it was time for another Tiffany family reunion.  We decided to have it in our old stomping ground of Warm Lake Idaho.  My family used to have a cabin here and spent many summer days on this lake.  It really holds a special place in each of our hearts and was a perfect location for our reunion.  There are really too many pictures to post so I’ve selected a few and I will post the rest on facebook.

The reunion was pretty laid back with a few planned activities.  There was a lot of lounging, swimming, playing in the sand, and eating.  One night my dad set up his projector and played a video that he put together for us.  The video was a modge podge of videos and pictures of all of us growing up.  It was fun to see the crazy old hair styles of everyone.  My dad also made copies for all of us.  My copy will only be viewed in private and then kept in the vault.  Only a special few will see snip-its of it.

For the most part meals were up to each individual family to prepare themselves.  We had two meals that were all together.  One night we had steak, corn on the cob, watermelon, and salad.  It was probably the best meal we had up there.  Everyone did a great job working together to get it on the table.  We also had breakfast together.  We went and picked huckleberries the day before and were able to make huckleberry pancakes and sausage for breakfast.  We also had dutch oven peach cobbler one night that I had opted out of because of my sugar issues.  It looked so delicious and my kids had at least seconds.

We spent a couple of days swimming in the lake which was a bit chilly but when you got used to it it was quite refreshing.  Conveniently we left our camera back at camp for these trips.  Although I did see my sister with her camera so there might be a picture out there that you should stay clear away from.  My Idaho legs were like a beacon and if looked directly at them you might go blind.  Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

We had a family game night that turned out really fun.  My dad prepared 7 minute to win it games.  He teamed family against family.  We had fun shooting rubber bands at playing cards, swing yo-yos from our backsides, unraveling toilet paper on our arms and that’s just  a few.  My sister Krystal won overall and her prize was a big jar of jelly beans but also, a surprise to everyone, she gets to plan the next reunion.

Our little family also took the opportunity to hike to one of the many hot springs up there.  There was a fire about 5 or 6 years ago and it burned most of the area.  The hike was hot and dusty.  As soon as we got back we took a nice refreshing swim in the lake.  My brother Cameron and his girlfriend Brittany came with us and it was funny on the way back Levi had to be in the front of the pack.  The problem with that is he liked to kick the dust up and who ever was behind him had a face full of dirt.  It happened to be Brittany behind him and a few times she would try and run in front of him only to find him running faster to keep ahead of her.  By the end we took a short cut and beat him to the car.  It was a fun little trip and I enjoyed getting to know Brittany a little better.

On the last day we all met at a park in Boise to have lunch before saying goodbye.  We were all able to see my grandma Wilkins (Tiffany).  We had a big photo with her and all of the great grandchildren.  Just in my family there are 15.  If you add my cousins my grandma has 18 great grandchildren.  It was really hard to say goodbye to everyone especially knowing that it’s going to be another two years before I get to see most of them.  I can’t wait for then next reunion which, according to Krystal, will probably be in California.

My Nephew Zachary had a birthday. This is all the grandchildren eating cake.

My family loves to play games. Here they are having a play nine tounament.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also liked sitting by the fire

Our hike to vulcan hot springs

 

 

 

 

 

 

fishing from the dock

Great Grandma with great grandkids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My siblings and I.

The whole clan

Aug 17 2011

Huckleberry Muffins

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Huckleberry Muffins

Here is an update on those huckleberries.  One of the things I decided to do was make huckleberry muffins.  I’m surprised that I’ve never had these before.  I like blueberry muffins but they aren’t my favorite.  So it seemed logical to substitute huckleberries instead of blueberries.  These turned out great and I now have a new favorite followed closely by lemon poppyseed.  One thing I don’t like about blueberry muffins is that they are often too sweet for my taste.  The huckleberries solved that problem.  The huckleberry has just the right amount of tartness to off set the sweetness of the muffin.  So if your looking to try something new just take your favorite blueberry muffin recipe and substitute huckleberries.

Doesn't this look so yummy?

....mmmm

 

 

Aug 15 2011

Huckleberries

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Huckleberries

Yummy, yummy it’s huckleberry time.  I don’t grow this in my garden but these tiny berries grow wild in the mountains not too far from our home.  Growing up we used to have a cabin at Warm Lake Idaho. Warm Lake is about 30 miles from Cascade Idaho.  We would spend much of our summers up there and when it was huckleberry season my mom would load us up in the van and we would spend a couple hours at our favorite huckleberry picking spot and pick.  Then we would  be rewarded the next morning with huckleberry pancakes.

We have lived in this area for seven years now and have known that there are huckleberries here but they have eluded us.  If you ask anyone where to pick they never give you a straight answer.  If they have a spot it’s a well guarded secret.  This year we happened upon a nice spot by accident.  Corey was camping with Levi in Kelly Canyon, that is as close as you will get to the location, and they went for a hike.  While on their hike they noticed the huckleberry patch and started picking.  When they came home we had enough for a batch of huckleberry pancakes.  Of course, I made Corey take me to the huckleberry patch and we picked a couple of quarts of them.  I froze them and now we can have huckleberry pancakes for a while.  I might even try some huckleberry muffins.

Aug 13 2011

Raspberries

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Raspberries

Raspberries weren’t something we planned on growing.  Our neighbors behind us have a huge raspberry patch and the birds have spread the seeds into our yard.  So when we moved here instead of pulling them all up we have decided to let them grow in a certain area.  I had never made raspberry jam before and that same year our neighbor let us go over and pick a bunch.  I made raspberry jam and it is now my favorite type of jam.  I can’t go without it.

Our neighbor has now remarried and they pick and sell the raspberries instead of letting us pick them.  So this year we bought some bare root plants and planted our own raspberry patch.  Something you should know about raspberries is it takes a year before you get any raspberries.  They shoot up a cane the first spring and the next year is when they start to produce raspberries.  So this year we didn’t really have enough for jam but luckily I have a wonderful friend who had more than enough and she gave me enough to do three batches of jam.  Thanks Amy.

I have some kind of pest problem not sure what it is.  It’s a bug that likes to make a lot of holes in the leaves.  It hasn’t hurt the production of raspberries but I’m afraid that it might affect the plant. I’ve done a little bit of research and it could be earwigs, Japanese beetles, or some kid of fungus.  I’ve never seen anything actually chomping away at the plant but I have seen earwigs in that area before.  What do you think?

Aug 11 2011

Green Beans

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Green Beans

Green beans are a requirement for my garden.  I can green beans every year.  I do the normal canned green beans and I also do dill pickled green beans.  My kids love both.  I’ve noticed that I need to plant at least twice as many as I have. There are so many different varieties that you can plant.  You can get bush or pole.  I prefer the bush over the pole.  I just don’t like to steak anything up.  My parents like the Kentucky blue bush (also comes in pole).  That was really difficult to find in my area so when we had our own garden we asked people for their opinions.  We were looking in the local garden store and lady told me she really liked the Slenderette variety.  I had never heard of it.  One thing I don’t like about certain varieties of beans is that they have a tough and fuzzy skin.  The Kentucky variety doesn’t and so that was one of the requirements for my beans.  The lady told me that the Slenderette is tender and high yielding. It also has the soft skin.  So I bought some and haven’t gone back.  They are wonderful and produce what I like every year.  I just need to plant more.

Aug 9 2011

Strawberries

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Strawberry plants

Strawberries for me have been difficult.  We planted these a few years ago and it has really done a good job of covering the area that was designed for them.  The problem I have is I’ve planted the wrong variety.  We got the variety that is supposed to produce all season long.  That means we get one or two strawberries at a time.  That’s okay if you only want to put it in your cereal once in a while.  I like to make strawberry jam so I think that the variety I should have gotten was the one that produces all at once.  There is also another variety that is just a ground cover and doesn’t produce strawberries at all.  Another problem we have is birds.  We wait and watch for the the strawberries to ripen.  Then one day we wake up to find that all of our waiting was in vain because the birds ate the strawberry before we even had a chance.  This year my husband built a cage to go over the strawberries.  It has windows on the top so we can still pick and we have had some success with it.  I also think we might have a slug issue with the strawberries.  So here is my dilemma do I pull up all the strawberries and start over with the right variety or do I just leave it the way it is looking nice?

The cage that Corey built